Monthly Archives: August 2012

Funeral For A Friend, Welcome Home Armageddon!. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.

Funeral for a Friend’s music may be more in common with West Coast and Mid American acts than with some of their compatriots from Wales, I.E The Stereophonics and The Automatic, but their music still has the ring of Welsh confidence that has seen a resurgence in their country’s output of superb music over the last few years.

The new album has the title to die for in Welcome Home Armageddon! And whilst it may open with a self styled instrumental track in This Side of Brightness, it hides the fact that the album is full of mind crunching riffs that that will satisfy the cravings of those that may have felt a little left out in the home grown hardcore stakes recently.

Funeral For A Friend, Welcome Home Armageddon!. Album Review. full post

(334 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

The Trestles, Gig Review. The Casa, Hope Street, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 21st 2011.

There can’t have been a more important building on Saturday night than The Casa on Hope Street. In the last few years it has played host to some of the more important gigs to have taken place in this city, not least the much liked and influential folk/protest singer Alun Parry.

Stepping into the limelight and fast becoming part of the collective heart beat that keeps this city’s cognisant firmly in its place was the next generation, a Liverpool band that is here for more than just a reason, they will point the direction for the next ten years if we are fortunate.

The Trestles, Gig Review. The Casa, Hope Street, Liverpool. full post

(450 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Queen, A Day At The Races. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 22nd 2011.

Following on from their smash hit A Night at the Opera, Queen once more delved into the world of The Marx Brothers for inspiration for the title of their next album. They didn’t have to look too far as they chose the name that would have been next on the film list. A Day at the Races became the bands second number one album and although arguably nowhere near as strong as its four predecessors in its direction or overall feel it still marked an important change in the band’s approach and how they were looked upon.

Queen, A Day At The Races. Album Review. 2011 Remastered Edition. full post

(397 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Duran Duran, All You Need Is Now. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 22nd 2011.

If there is a band that sums up the pop scene in Birmingham in the 1980’s and the resulting worldwide fan base that followed with their cut glass image, their smooth and carefully planned videos and sexual appeal, then it would be none other than of course, Duran Duran. It can be said that this decade belonged them.

Now three clear decades on since they thrilled Birmingham crowds at the Rum Runner Club they have released the 13th studio album and things finally look back on track for the band after a few failed attempts to recreate the early magic had left them looking rudderless and no longer a viable musical option.

Duran Duran, All You Need Is Now. Album Review. full post

(398 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 27th 2011.

After last year’s important and mind blowing appearance at the High Voltage Festival in London, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash have been busy preparing for yet another tour. After being well received so far, the band arrived on stage at the Robin in Bilston full of hope and a mission statement to entertain and enthrall the adoring crowd.

Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, Gig Review. Bilston Robin 2. full post

(366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Funeral For a Friend, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 29th 2011.

With five studio albums to their name, Funeral for a Friend can be considered at the top of the game right now when it comes to giving intimate, sweaty and fast tackling gigs. With a new studio album, Welcome Home Armageddon, not long released, fans of the Welsh band may have found it hard to get to grips with the direction the band have taken, but rest assured on stage, they are as cool, driven and manic as they ever were.

Funeral For a Friend, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(350 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. The Masque, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 1st 2011.

There are a lot of bands around who take time to get back into their stride after taking a considerable long time off from touring, especially when they are young and hungry. However Mercury Midnight with only a couple of dates since last August’s superb performance at the o2 Academy in Liverpool quickly recaptured that evening’s vibe and strode confidently back to a very warm reception at the Masque.

Mercury Midnight, Gig Review. The Masque, Liverpool. full post

(347 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Roald Dahl’s Twisted Tales, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse.

Picture from everymanplayhouse.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 1st 2011.

Cast: Nicholas Burns, David Cardy, Ryan Cage, Andy Nyman.

To some, the very name Roald Dahl invokes memories of hiding behind the sofa and watching through the gaps of tight, clamped hands and being mesmerized by the sight of lady dancing in flames, as the title music to The Tales of the Unexpected rang through living rooms up and down the country.

Now after last year’s smash hit Ghost Stories, The Liverpool Playhouse once more delves into the mysterious and peculiar as Jeremy Dyson adapts some of the most popular stories from Roald Dahl’s collection and brings them to life on the stage.

Roald Dahl’s Twisted Tales, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse. full post

(368 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

John Wesley, The Lilypad Suite. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. April 13th 2011.

For fans of John Wesley, the news that he has released a new album will be greeted with a fan fare so loud that it will be heard from Florida to Stourbridge. One of the finest musicians of his generation, he has thrilled audiences with his own music and with collaborations with Fish and Porcupine Tree over the last twenty years.

The Lilypad Suite is no exception to the hard and fast rule that once you have found a sound, stick with it, tweak it, play around with it, even enlarge it but never forget what made you admired and loved.

John Wesley, The Lilypad Suite. Album Review. full post

(367 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Foo Fighters, Wasting Light. Album Review.

For any band to follow up one of their finest albums especially after a four year gap can be daunting, especially when that album was the sensational and 2 x platinum selling Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace.

With the bands seventh studio album Wasting Light, Foo Fighters have done that…just. The album has a wonderful urban feel to it and should come as no surprise to the band’s massive following and multitude of fans that the album was originally recorded in Dave Grohl‘s garage. Other bands have tried this effect of taking the band feel and giving it a new environment and in a lot of times it doesn’t give the band the sound or the credit they deserve for the experiment, in this case however, the deconstructive result gives the band an unseen quality that many would have missed over the last fifteen years.

Foo Fighters, Wasting Light. Album Review. full post

(345 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)